TL;DR — RACE WEEKEND GAME PLAN
- 1.Altitude is the race. 2,240 m, roughly 25% less oxygen. Pace the eight runs by breathing, not by your sea-level splits, and walk the roxzone deliberately.
- 2.Arrive within 24 hours of racing or give yourself three full days. The middle window is the worst of both.
- 3.Stay at Toreo or Naucalpan, not Polanco. Closer to the venue, further from the F1 crowd, and materially cheaper this weekend.
- 4.There is no hotel next to Centro Citibanamex. Ignore the Av. del Conscripto map pins — those listings are not usable hotels.
- 5.Order your race-morning car for 07:00 from Polanco or 07:20 from Toreo for an 08:30 wave. The Conscripto approach is the bottleneck.
- 6.Search the venue as 'Centro Citibanamex', never 'Hipódromo de las Américas', or your driver takes you to the racecourse gate.
- 7.Nothing is walkable. Breakfast at the hotel or carry it — Chedraui Selecto at Toreo from 07:00, Walmart on Ávila Camacho 24 hours.
- 8.Pack a real warm layer and dry socks in bag drop. A 21:50 finish means walking out into single digits soaked.
- 9.F1 and Day of the Dead share this weekend. Book hotels early, expect surge pricing, and avoid crossing Reforma on Saturday afternoon.
- 10.Do not hire a car. Hoy No Circula bans foreign and out-of-state plates all day Saturday without a Pase Turístico.
QUICK TAKE — IS THIS A GOOD DESTINATION?
VERDICT: YES
HYROX Mexico City runs Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 at Centro Citibanamex, the exhibition centre inside the Hipódromo de las Américas grounds. It suits anyone who wants the biggest HYROX field in Latin America and is willing to trade a fast time for a genuinely loud room — the 2025 edition drew 11,783 athletes across 14 divisions. The city is cheap; this particular weekend is not, because Formula 1 and Day of the Dead land on exactly the same three days.
⚠️ Caveat: Travel friction is high. The venue sits in a military and racecourse district with poor pedestrian access and no Metro station within a sensible walk — Cuatro Caminos is 2.3 km away. You will be paying for cars. And the altitude is the defining fact of the race: at 2,240 m the air holds roughly 25% less oxygen than at sea level.
The venue itself is well organised and huge, but everything around it is car-dependent, and three of the largest events in the CDMX calendar are stacked on one weekend.
At 2,240 m the 2025 Pro Men's race was won in 1:05:22 and the Pro Women's in 1:15:01, both slower than comparable sea-level races. Rox Lyfe attributes this directly to the elevation.
FAST COURSE?
No. Not the layout, the air. The hall is flat, carpeted and air-conditioned, but 25% less available oxygen dictates every run split you will produce.
CITY VIBE — WHAT ATHLETES NEED TO KNOW
Centro Citibanamex is a large purpose-built exhibition centre inside the Hipódromo de las Américas grounds in Lomas de Sotelo. What surrounds it: Campo Militar No. 1, the racecourse and Periférico. That is close to the whole list — this is not a district with cafés, corner shops or pavements you would choose to use. The city itself is excellent value and the Metro costs MXN 5 a ride, but the last leg to the venue defeats public transport, so budget for Uber, Didi or Cabify. F1 demand concentrates in Polanco, Reforma, Roma and Condesa; the Toreo and Naucalpan cluster north-west of the venue is both closer to Citibanamex and further from the F1 crowd.
TYPICAL WEEKEND COSTS
Language: Spanish. English is common in Polanco hotels and restaurants, less so at Toreo and with drivers. Currency: Mexican peso. Cards work almost everywhere in Polanco, Naucalpan and at the venue, but carry MXN 300 to 500 in cash for taquerías, market stalls and small pharmacies, and use bank ATMs rather than standalone machines. Tipping is 10% to 15% in restaurants and often not included — check the bill for 'propina' before adding.
BEST BASE NEIGHBOURHOODS
Toreo and Naucalpan
Best for: Proximity and price. Weakest for food and atmosphere, and further from the F1 crowd, which is the point.
Polanco
Best for: Food, physio, cold plunge and gyms. Most expensive, and the F1 crowd is here.
Lomas de Tecamachalco
Best for: Quiet, and being close without being in Naucalpan. Very few hotels.
Roma and Condesa
Best for: The city itself. Worst for race logistics at 30 to 45 minutes each way, and cut off by the parade route on Saturday afternoon.
VENUE & LOCATION ANALYSIS
Centro Citibanamex
Av. del Conscripto 311, Lomas de Sotelo, Hipódromo de las Américas, Miguel Hidalgo, 11610 CDMX
Search the venue by name, not by 'Hipódromo de las Américas', or your driver may take you to the racecourse grandstand entrance on Av. Industria Militar instead of the exhibition halls. Walkability is poor: the nearest 24-hour supermarket, a Walmart on Blvd. Manuel Ávila Camacho, is about 1.3 km away in a straight line, roughly 20 minutes on foot along a fast road. The nearest useful cluster of shops is Toreo Parque Central, about 1.6 km north. What is open early: almost nothing within walking distance. Chedraui Selecto at Toreo opens at 07:00 daily and the Walmart is 24 hours. Sort breakfast at your hotel or carry it. HYROX has not yet published check-in times or locations for 2026.
NEAREST STATIONS
- Metro Cuatro Caminos (Line 2, northern terminus) — About 2.3 km — 30 to 40 minutes on foot or a short taxi. Not a race-morning walk
- Metro San Joaquín (Line 7) — About 2.8 km. Line 7 is running normally again since Auditorio reopened on 18 May 2026
- Toreo Parque Central — 1.6 km north — mall and transport hub, and the practical drop-off if you are coming by bus
- Colectivo Ruta 13E towards Lomas de Sotelo — Stops on Av. del Conscripto a few minutes from the halls. Not a system to learn on race morning
WALKABILITY
Poor. Nothing walkable from the halls, a fast road between you and the nearest supermarket, and no Metro station inside a sensible walk. Plan on cars.
Campo Militar No. 1, the racecourse and Periférico. No cafés, no corner shops, and no pavements you would choose to use. Everything useful — supermarket, pharmacy, gym, physio — is 1.3 km or more away.
🏃 RACE MORNING PLAN
For an 08:30 first wave, order a car for 07:00 from Polanco or 07:20 from Toreo. That gives you a 15 to 25 minute drive plus a 40 to 55 minute buffer for the car queue at the Conscripto entrance. The bottleneck is the single main approach on Av. del Conscripto, reached from the Periférico lateral, and drop-off congestion builds sharply in the 45 minutes before a wave block starts. Queues form at athlete check-in (opens 90 minutes before the first wave of your division), bag drop and the roxzone entry. With a field this size, assume check-in is the longest queue you will stand in all weekend.
TRANSPORT LINKS
BEST AIRPORT: MEXICO CITY INTERNATIONAL (BENITO JUÁREZ) (MEX)
21 km from the venue by road, 40 to 75 minutes depending on traffic, and by far the most international routes. Felipe Ángeles (AIFA) is about 50 km out at 70 to 120 minutes with limited ground transport — a trap for this trip unless the fare gap is very large.
Mexico City International (Benito Juárez) (MEX)
21 km by road. Fastest is Uber, Didi or Cabify at roughly MXN 250 to 450 to the Polanco and Naucalpan side. Lowest stress is an authorised airport taxi booked at the kiosks inside arrivals — you pay a fixed zone fare before you leave the terminal, around MXN 250 to 370 to central areas and more for the north-west. Never take a taxi that approaches you.
Time to venue: 40-75 min by car
Felipe Ángeles International (AIFA)
About 50 km by road with limited ground transport. Only use it if the fare difference is very large, and factor a MXN 800-plus car into the saving before you book.
Time to venue: 70-120 min by car
Getting to Centro Citibanamex
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TIPS
- The Metro is excellent value at MXN 5 a ride and Metrobús is MXN 6, both on the same Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada card, which costs MXN 15 empty. Buy one at any station machine on arrival.
- The problem is the last leg: from Cuatro Caminos you still have about 2.3 km, so budget 30 to 40 minutes walking or a short taxi.
- Colectivo Ruta 13E towards Lomas de Sotelo stops on Av. del Conscripto, a few minutes from the halls — useful once you know the city, not on race morning.
- Metrobús Line 4 serves both airport terminals, MXN 30, running 04:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 05:00 to midnight Sundays and holidays.
- Line 7 (San Joaquín, Polanco, Auditorio) is fully operational again — Auditorio reopened on 18 May 2026 after a five-month closure.
🚕 Taxi / Uber / Ola
Uber and Didi are the default way to move around CDMX and both work well. Surge is the risk, and this weekend has three surge drivers stacked: F1 sessions, the Day of the Dead parade, and HYROX wave blocks finishing after 22:00. Order early and expect to wait. Airport rideshare pickup rules have changed through 2026, so check the app for the current pickup point on arrival. Never take a taxi that approaches you at the airport — use the authorised kiosks.
🚗 Driving
Centro Citibanamex has large car parks reached from the Periférico lateral via Av. Industria Militar onto Av. del Conscripto. We have no verified 2026 parking price, so check on arrival rather than budgeting a figure. Before you rent: Hoy No Circula restricts driving Monday to Saturday, 05:00 to 22:00, across 16 alcaldías and 18 neighbouring Edomex municipalities. Vehicles with out-of-state or foreign plates cannot drive on any Saturday in those hours without a free Pase Turístico from SEDEMA. Fines in 2026 run MXN 2,346 to MXN 3,519 plus impound.
WHERE TO STAY
Suites Teca Once
Near venueMid — unverified for this weekend
Best for: The only verified lodging genuinely inside a 30-minute walk band
Apartment-style suites in Lomas de Tecamachalco with kitchen access, central A/C and a small gym. Honest tradeoff, and it is real: the walk is uphill through Tecamachalco and crosses Blvd. del Pípila, so it is a walk you would do once in daylight and never at 22:00. Recent reviews repeatedly flag weak wifi, dated furniture and a very tight car park. Book it for the location, not the finish.
Low to mid — unverified for this weekend
Best for: A clean, predictable room at the lowest sensible price near the venue
Breakfast included, gym and pool on site, high-ceilinged rooms. Honest tradeoff: it sits in a light-industrial pocket of Naucalpan with nothing walkable around it, so every meal is a car journey. Reviews mention road noise and some windowless rooms — ask for an exterior room when you book.
Mid — unverified for this weekend
Best for: The best balance of distance, reliability and price on this weekend
Next to Toreo Parque Central, which gives you Chedraui Selecto from 07:00 and Sport City gym on the doorstep. Honest tradeoff: rooms are small, breakfast is unremarkable, and several reviewers note the immediate streets are not somewhere to wander on foot after dark. Front desk English is limited.
High, and higher again on an F1 weekend
Best for: Proper recovery infrastructure, food and a serious gym within a short walk
On Campos Elíseos, a few minutes from Bosque de Chapultepec for shakeouts and walking distance to the Polanco physio, massage and cold plunge cluster. Honest tradeoff: you are paying peak F1 pricing for a room further from the start line than the Toreo options, and Polanco traffic on Saturday afternoon will be the worst in the city. Big corporate property — ask for a room away from the lifts.
🏨 Looking to book? Compare prices on your preferred booking platform.
WHERE TO EAT
💡 Smart move: There is nothing to eat at the venue end. The closest supermarket is the 24-hour Walmart on Blvd. Manuel Ávila Camacho, about 1.3 km along a fast road, and Chedraui Selecto at Toreo opens at 07:00. For an 08:30 wave you are eating breakfast at the hotel or out of your own bag — buy it the night before.
Parole, Polanco
Athlete PickLarge pasta plates, open late every night, about 12 minutes by car from the venue. Expensive and loud, and the wait is long without a booking. Osteria del Becco on Goldsmith is the quieter alternative. Both take reservations — make one.
Taquería Orinoco, Av. Horacio
Athlete PickRuns until 03:30 most nights and 05:30 on Friday and Saturday, which matters when your wave finishes at 22:00. La Bonvi in Polanco is the sit-down version, open until 23:30.
Niddo Café and 787 Coffee, Polanco
Athlete PickBoth open at 07:00 daily; Conejo Blanco opens at 08:00. There is nothing at the venue end — for a first wave at 08:30 you will be eating at the hotel, not at a café.
Walmart Ávila Camacho and Chedraui Selecto Toreo
Athlete PickThe Walmart on Blvd. Manuel Ávila Camacho is open 24 hours and closest at about 1.3 km. Chedraui Selecto at Toreo Parque Central runs 07:00 to 23:00 daily at about 1.6 km. Both stock rice, bananas, tortillas, electrolyte sachets and bottled water.
THINGS TO DO
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Pre-RaceFlat, indoors and close to Polanco — the one museum to do if you only do one. Keep total walking to a couple of hours and stay off your feet the day before you race.
Museo Soumaya and Museo Jumex, Plaza Carso
Pre-RaceAbout 2.2 km from the venue and an easy hour each. The lowest-fatigue way to fill a day before racing at altitude.
Día de Muertos parade and Zócalo ofrendas
Post-RaceYou have landed on Day of the Dead weekend. The Gran Desfile is expected Saturday 31 October and the ofrenda installations run across the weekend. If you race Friday, Saturday is yours. Note the parade closes Paseo de la Reforma for several hours on Saturday afternoon.
Chapultepec Castle and Masaryk
Any TimeThe fillers spectators need between wave blocks, which run past 22:00. Castle, Zócalo ofrendas and the Polanco restaurant strip all work.
RACE STRATEGY
VENUE
Centro Citibanamex is a carpeted, air-conditioned exhibition hall. Expect dry indoor air, which combines with altitude to increase respiratory fluid loss more than 22°C would suggest. With 11,783 athletes in 2025 across three days and waves running 08:30 to past 22:00, the hall is busy open to close and warm-up space is the scarcest resource.
COURSE FLOW
HYROX has not published the lap count for this event — the official page lists 'Laps to run: TBD'. Do not plan lap-splitting until it is confirmed.
RUN SURFACE
Carpeted exhibition-hall flooring over concrete. Predictable underfoot; the air is the variable, not the surface.
HEAT
The hall will feel dry rather than hot at around 22°C. The real problem is outside: a 14°C daily swing means a 21:50 finish puts you on the street in single digits with a soaked base layer. Pack a proper warm layer and dry socks in bag drop, not a token hoodie.
ELEVATION
2,240 m, and it is the race. Roughly 25% less oxygen than sea level. Everything aerobic gets harder and nothing about your strength changes, which distorts the whole event. Arrive within 24 hours of racing, before the acute effects peak, or give yourself three or more days — most visitors need 24 to 72 hours to adjust.
⚠️ WHERE PEOPLE BLOW UP
The eight 1 km runs are where you lose the time — pace by breathing and perceived effort, not splits. If you run your sea-level pace on run one you pay for it from run three onwards. Sled push, sled pull, farmers carry and lunges are the least affected, so hold close to normal output there. Burpee broad jumps and wall balls are the killers, stacking ventilatory demand onto limited recovery, and wall balls come last. The roxzone is where altitude really punishes people: walk it deliberately rather than jogging it and blowing up at station six. Reset the goal — this is a race for placing, points and the experience of the biggest field in the region, not a PB.
HISTORICAL DATA
11,783
Finishers (HYROX Mexico City 2025 (Centro Citibanamex))
1:05:22 Pro Men / 1:15:01 Pro Women (2025 winners)
Avg Finish Time (Mexico City-specific)
2,240 m
Altitude
No. Both 2025 Pro winning times were slower than comparable sea-level races, which Rox Lyfe attributes directly to the 2,240 m elevation.
Source: HYRESULT Mexico City 2025, Rox Lyfe and the HYROX event page, verified 24 August 2026. Lap count listed as TBD; check-in times and locations not yet published for 2026.
RECOVERY SPOTS
ICE BATHS / COLD PLUNGE
TÉRMIQUE, ANATOLE FRANCE, POLANCO
Sauna and cold plunge sessions, 07:00 to 20:00 weekdays and 08:00 to 14:00 at weekends. Small, so book ahead.
📍 ~2.9 km from the venue
Best use: The evening after your race, not the morning of.
THERMÁ CONTRAST LAB, INSIDE ELPARQUE GYM, TEMÍSTOCLES
Opens 06:00 on weekdays and you can book the whole space for up to five people — useful for a team.
📍 ~2.9 km from the venue
Best use: Book the full slot the day after racing and split the cost across the crew.
SAUNAS & SPAS
NOTHING AT THE VENUE END
The recovery cluster is entirely in Polanco, 2.8 to 3.2 km away. There is no walkable option from Citibanamex or the Toreo hotels.
Best use: If you are staying at Toreo, book ahead and budget a car each way.
HOTEL FACILITIES
Holiday Inn Express Toreo has a pool and gym, the Hyatt Regency has the most serious gym of the four picks, and Suites Teca Once has a small gym only.
Best use: Confirm at booking rather than assuming — several Polanco properties run reduced facilities on F1 weekends.
PHYSIOS NEAR VENUE
OrthoTherapy, Av. Homero
Closest verified clinic at about 2.3 km, open until 20:00 weekdays and 08:00 to 16:00 Saturdays. Closed Sundays — if you race Sunday you have no physio option that day.
FÉNIX, Masaryk
Saturday-only at weekends. Same Sunday problem. Plan physio for the Saturday or the Monday.
WEATHER STRATEGY
LATE OCTOBER CONDITIONS
Late October and early November: daytime highs around 22°C, overnight lows around 8°C, roughly four rain days across November and about 33 mm of rain for the month. The rainy season is ending, so an afternoon shower is possible but not likely.
- Standard indoor race kit — the hall is climate-controlled and will feel dry rather than hot
- A proper warm layer in bag drop, not a token hoodie, for a late finish into single digits
- Dry socks and a dry top to change into immediately after
- A light shell for an unlikely but possible afternoon shower
- Sunscreen for any outdoor shakeout — high-altitude sun is strong even on cloudy days
💧 Hydration
Drink more than your home routine. Altitude plus dry indoor air plus air conditioning is a bigger fluid drain than 22°C suggests, and electrolytes matter more here than water volume alone.
🏟️ Indoor vs Outdoor
Indoors: carpeted, air-conditioned, dry, around 22°C. Outdoors: mild by day and genuinely cold by night. The 14°C swing is the thing people get wrong.
SHAKEOUT RUN ROUTES
EASY 5 KM — PISTA EL SOPE, BOSQUE DE CHAPULTEPEC SEGUNDA SECCIÓN
About 3.5 km from the venue, roughly 15 minutes by car, and the best running surface in the city for this purpose. Two circuits of roughly 1,200 m and 850 m plus a 100 m straight and a warm-up area — three laps of the long circuit plus one short gives you about 4.5 km. Surface is fine-grain tezontle, a volcanic gravel softer than asphalt. Signage every 100 m, solar lighting, drinking fountains with UV purification, on-site security, parking and an outdoor gym area. Genuinely busy with runners, which is the safety feature that matters.
🏃 Parkrun
We could not verify an active parkrun event in Mexico City. Treat El Sope as the substitute. Alternative: Parque Bicentenario in Azcapotzalco, 07:00 to 18:00, about 4.2 km away — closed on Mondays, which is fine for race weekend but catches people on 2 November.
🏟️ Track Access
No public-access track confirmed near the venue. El Sope's 100 m straight and warm-up area covers anything structured you need on this trip.
El Sope is lit, fenced, patrolled and busy. Do not improvise street routes around Lomas de Sotelo — the roads are fast, the pavements are intermittent and the high-altitude sun is strong even on cloudy days.
GYMS NEAR VENUE
FUNCTIONAL / STRENGTH
UNDERCOVER CROSSFIT POLANCO
A HYROX affiliate, about 3.2 km. Weekend hours are short: 07:00 to 10:00 Saturday and 09:00 to 11:00 Sunday. Message ahead for a drop-in.
LGNDS POLANCO
About 2.9 km, runs HYROX-specific programming. Saturday 07:00 to 13:00, Sunday 09:00 to 10:00 only.
COMMERCIAL GYMS
Sport City Toreo
About 1.6 km and the closest gym to the venue, inside Toreo Parque Central. Saturday 08:00 to 18:00, Sunday 09:00 to 16:00.
Smart Fit
The local HYROX partner network, with several Polanco branches selling day passes. The Masaryk branch opens at 05:00 on weekdays.
HOTEL GYMS WORTH USING
Hyatt Regency Polanco
The most serious hotel gym of the four picks, and walking distance to Chapultepec for shakeouts.
Holiday Inn Express Toreo
Gym and pool on site, which covers a primer without a car journey.
Suites Teca Once
Small gym only. Fine for mobility, not for a session.
Weekend hours in CDMX are much shorter than weekday hours — several gyms shut by 10:00 or 11:00 on a Sunday. Message ahead rather than turning up.
ESSENTIALS — RACE WEEKEND OPS
SUPERMARKETS
Walmart
Blvd. Manuel Ávila Camacho 491
Open 24 hours, about 1.3 km. Closest, but a 20 minute walk along a fast road — take a car.
Chedraui Selecto
Toreo Parque Central, Naucalpan
07:00 to 23:00 daily, about 1.6 km. Also carries electrolytes and basic sports nutrition.
PHARMACIES
Farmacia San Pablo Tecamachalco
Fuente de La Juventud
Open 24 hours, about 1.5 km. Closest 24-hour pharmacy to the venue.
Farmacia San Pablo Polanco
Av. Isaac Newton
Also 24 hours, and the one to use if you are based in Polanco.
SPORTS SHOPS
Innovasport Polanco, Av. Horacio
11:00 to 21:00 daily, about 4.2 km. Note the late opening — if you need kit before an 08:30 wave, buy it the day before.
No dedicated supplement store nearby
The San Pablo pharmacies and Chedraui Selecto both carry electrolytes and basic sports nutrition. That is your lot within a short distance.
🆘 "OH NO" KIT CHECKLIST
VENUE DAY TIMELINE
SPECTATOR GUIDE
BEST VIEWING ZONES
- The Thunderdome finish area is the one that matters — the event page confirms a raised viewing position over the course
- Get there for the last 15 minutes of your athlete's projected finish window rather than trying to track them the whole way
- Spectator tickets are sold separately through the Mexico HYROX site
- Wave blocks run 08:30 to past 22:00, so there are long gaps to kill between athletes
- Chapultepec Castle, the Zócalo ofrendas and the Masaryk restaurant strip all work as fillers
FAMILY LOGISTICS
- Modern exhibition centre: plenty of toilets, step-free access throughout, escalators and lifts
- An on-site buffet restaurant plus event concessions — nothing outside the venue within walking distance
- Bring snacks for children; there is no shop run you can make on foot
- It is loud, and wave blocks are long. For young children treat it as a two to three hour visit timed around one wave
- Prams are handled without difficulty; reviews consistently rate it one of the better-run large venues in the city
📍 MEET-UP PLAN
Agree a fixed point and a fixed time before you go in. Mobile signal in a hall with thousands of people is unreliable, and the car park is large enough that 'by the entrance' is not a plan. The buffet restaurant inside the venue is the most findable landmark.
BUDGET CALCULATOR
| Line item | Budget | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (3 nights) | MXN 4,200 | MXN 9,600 | MXN 25,500 |
| Food (3 days) | MXN 1,050 | MXN 2,700 | MXN 6,600 |
| Local transport (3 days) | MXN 240 | MXN 1,200 | MXN 2,850 |
| Race extras & spectator tickets | MXN 300 | MXN 1,200 | MXN 3,000 |
| Recovery (massage / cold plunge) | MXN 0 | MXN 900 | MXN 2,500 |
ESTIMATED TOTALS (excl. flights)
PACKING CHECKLIST
RACE KIT
- Race vest or singlet
- Shorts or 2-in-1 shorts
- Racing shoes, broken in
- Socks, two pairs
- Sports bra if applicable
- Lightweight gloves for sled and rower grip
- Watch, charged
- Race confirmation and photo ID
WARM UP
- Resistance band
- Skipping rope
- Foam roller or massage ball
- Warm layer for the walk out after an evening wave
- Spare dry t-shirt
RECOVERY
- Warm layer and dry socks for after, especially for evening waves
- Compression garments
- Massage ball
- Flip flops or slides
- Swim shorts for cold plunge sessions
- Kinesiology or zinc oxide tape
- Anti-chafe balm
- Blister plasters
- Basic pain relief
NUTRITION
- Electrolyte tablets, extra for altitude and dry air
- Gels or chews
- Pre-race breakfast you already trust
- Recovery protein
- Reusable bottle
- Rehydration sachets for stomach upset
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
- Passport
- Travel insurance documents
- Card plus MXN 300 to 500 cash
- eSIM or roaming sorted before landing
- Universal adapter — Mexico uses types A and B, 127 V
- Sunscreen
- Spare laces
- Small day bag for the venue
SAMPLE RACE WEEKEND ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVAL & RECON
- Land at MEX, authorised airport taxi or rideshare to Toreo or Polanco, 40 to 75 minutes
- Buy a Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada at any Metro machine, MXN 15
- Stock race-morning food at Chedraui Selecto Toreo (07:00 to 23:00) or the 24-hour Walmart
- Very easy 20 minute walk only — you are at 2,240 m and doing nothing is the plan
- Carb dinner at Parole or Osteria del Becco in Polanco. Book ahead
DAY 2: RACE DAY
- Wake 3h30 out, water and electrolytes immediately, breakfast at the hotel
- Car ordered for 07:00 from Polanco or 07:20 from Toreo for an 08:30 wave
- Check-in opens 90 minutes before the first wave of your division — join it early
- Run one at breathing effort, not sea-level pace. Walk the roxzone deliberately
- Warm layer and dry socks out of bag drop, then Taquería Orinoco for late food
DAY 3: RECOVERY & EXPLORE
- Booked cold plunge at Térmique or THERMÁ Contrast Lab, or hands-on work at MUSCLE RECOVERY
- Easy shakeout laps on the tezontle at Pista El Sope in Chapultepec Segunda Sección
- Museo Nacional de Antropología, or Soumaya and Jumex at Plaza Carso
- Day of the Dead ofrendas in the Zócalo — allow for Reforma closures
- Celebration tacos at Orinoco, which runs to 05:30 on Friday and Saturday
LOCAL RULES & EMERGENCY INFO
Tipping
10% to 15% in restaurants, and it is often not included. Check the bill for 'propina' before adding.
Cash vs card
Cards work almost everywhere in Polanco, Naucalpan and at the venue. Carry MXN 300 to 500 for taquerías, market stalls and small pharmacies, and use bank ATMs rather than standalone machines.
Hoy No Circula
Driving restricted Monday to Saturday 05:00 to 22:00 across 16 alcaldías and 18 Edomex municipalities. Out-of-state and foreign plates are banned on any Saturday in those hours without a free SEDEMA Pase Turístico. Fines MXN 2,346 to MXN 3,519 plus impound.
Holiday closures
Sunday 1 November is All Saints' Day and Monday 2 November is Day of the Dead. Neither is a statutory rest day, so most businesses operate, but hours shorten and the centre and cemeteries get very busy on the Monday.
Sunday physio
Several clinics near the venue, including OrthoTherapy and FÉNIX, are closed on Sundays. If you race Sunday, book MUSCLE RECOVERY or wait for Monday.
Parade road closures
The Gran Desfile de Día de Muertos closes Paseo de la Reforma for several hours on Saturday afternoon. Do not plan to cross the centre that afternoon if you race Saturday evening.
Plug type
Types A and B, 127 V. Bring an adapter if you are coming from Europe or the UK.
EMERGENCY INFO
911
All emergencies
078
Tourist assistance (ATT)
065
Red Cross ambulance
555 658 1111
CDMX Locatel
Hospital: Hospital Cruz Roja Mexicana Polanco, Av. Ejército Nacional Mexicano 1032, about 1.6 km from the venue with a 24-hour emergency department. Hospital Español on Av. Ejército Nacional is the larger private option at about 3 km. Carry travel insurance documents — private care is billed up front.
Pharmacy: Farmacia San Pablo Tecamachalco on Fuente de La Juventud, 24 hours, about 1.5 km. Farmacia San Pablo Polanco on Av. Isaac Newton is also 24 hours if you are based in Polanco.